Slow Start, Steady Finish

JAFC 1 - 0 Goldhill

After almost a month apart, the team of Jolly lads finally came together, dressed in the colours of the combine uni for a friendly against a KL Div 2 team (Goldhill) in preparations for the big FA cup tie with prisons. The game or rather the evening and the game started out slow, it might have been due to the after effects of being shocked by the 3/4 Chinese opponents as many of us equated KL Div 2 team = Team of Malays (no offence to Rafi - based on race on IC). It was so shocking that we even forgot to huddle for the YINGNI! cheer.

However, as the ball started moving from feet to feet, the pace of the game picked up as well, with JAFC having most of the possession. JAFC had several promising runs and passes in the attacking third, however none materialised with shots going either wide or over the bar. Just when the half looked like it was going to end goalless, a well wiped in corner by Sudi found Weiming at the near post who unleashed a blazing glancing header, sending the ball straight into the net, leaving the Goldhill keeper and their defenders dumbfounded.

Just before the half ended, Coach Arasu made several substitutions, hoping to add on another goal with the introduction of hungrier attacking minded players like Khai and “Nigerian” Pramod, back from his failed transfer to the Niger Tornadoes (it’s a real team by the way). The second half took off with Goldhill stepping up their game with their passes and runs being more penetrative. Despite the pounding pressure from them, the JAFC backline stood strong, coping well with all that was thrown at them. Again the second half saw JAFC coming close a couple of times with Fuhang’s shot forcing a brilliant save from the Goldhill’s keeper and Khai’s half volley going just wide.

At the end of the day, a Steady finish from Weiming was enough to seal the victory for JAFC. Overall it was a good performance leading up to the FA Cup tie. Till the next game on Friday, rest well and train hard (a little oxymoron but you guys get the point).

Lineup: Aziz (Tim), Andrew, Aaron, Feroz (Rafi), Anand(Jin), Sudi, Fuhang (Kok Siong), Zul, Manfred (Pramod), Weiming, Winston (Khai)

P.S: I’m sorry if I messed up the substitutions and if I missed anyone out. It was kinda messy but the basically everyone played (: